Puente de Hierro

Puente de Hierro in Dúrcal is a steel railway bridge spanning the Dúrcal River, one of the most striking pieces of industrial heritage in the province of Granada. Locals just as often call it Puente de Lata, the "Tin Bridge," a nickname that has become almost as common as its official name.

How did an iron bridge end up in Dúrcal?

The bridge's story starts far from where it stands today. It was originally built over the Gor ravine north of Granada, as part of the railway line connecting Guadix and Baza. The design came from an engineer trained in the school of Gustave Eiffel, and the structure itself is a cantilever bridge, a riveted lattice design supported on projecting truss arms — considered one of the more ambitious railway engineering projects on the Iberian Peninsula at the time.

When a new line was built linking Granada with the Lecrín Valley, the bridge was dismantled and re-erected over the Dúrcal River, its original length trimmed down to fit the narrower gorge. It reopened at its new site on 18 July 1924. From then on, it carried freight and passenger trains through the Lecrín Valley until the line closed in the 1960s.

What can visitors see today?

The bridge rises tens of metres above the riverbed, and the view from its deck is the main reason people come: a wide panorama over the deep gorge carved by the Dúrcal River and the slopes of the Lecrín Valley beyond. The structure runs close to 200 metres in length and rests on the riveted lattice framework typical of railway bridges from the turn of the 20th century.

After the line closed, the bridge stood abandoned for years. In 1983 it was transferred to the Granada Provincial Council, and it now belongs to the municipality of Dúrcal. Today it carries only foot traffic and forms part of the walking routes through the Lecrín Valley, making it a favourite short stop for photographers and anyone with an interest in old railway infrastructure.

Why is it worth a stop?

Puente de Hierro is a rare case of a railway bridge that outlived its own line. Relocated once already in its history, it survives as both an engineering landmark and a regional symbol, decades after the last train crossed it. For anyone exploring the Lecrín Valley, it's a natural landmark and a good reason to walk along the river, combining scenery with a genuinely unusual engineering backstory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you still walk across Puente de Hierro today? Yes, the bridge is open to pedestrians only and forms part of the walking trails through the Lecrín Valley.

Why is the bridge also called Puente de Lata? It's a long-standing local nickname, meaning "Tin Bridge," that is used by residents just as often as the official name Puente de Hierro.

Was the bridge always located in Dúrcal? No. It was first built over the Gor ravine north of Granada as part of the Guadix–Baza railway line, then relocated to Dúrcal and reopened there in 1924.

When did the bridge stop carrying trains? The railway line it served closed in the 1960s; since then the bridge has served only pedestrian and tourist traffic.